Lillian Moller
Gilbreth was an inventor, author, industrial engineer, industrial psychologist,
and mother of twelve children. A pioneer in ergonomics, Gilbreth patented
many kitchen appliances including an electric food mixer,
shelves
inside refrigerator doors, and the famoustrash can with
a foot-pedal lid-opener. Lillian Gilbreth is best known for her work to
help workers in industry with her classic Time & Motion Studies, which
supported work simplification and industrial efficiency. Lillian Gilbreth
was one of the first scientists to recognized the effects of stress and
lack of sleep on the worker.

After the death
of her husband Frank Gilbreth with whom she had co-authored many of the
worker studies and were partners in the management
consulting firm of Gilbreth, Inc., Lillian Gilbreth continued her work
and turned her attention to the household worker and increasing the efficiency
of kitchen appliances.

Lillian Gilbreth
was an industrial engineer for General Electric and worked on improving
kitchen designs. Gilbreth interviewed over 4,000 women to design the proper
height for stoves, sinks, and other kitchen fixtures. In 1966, she became
the fist women to be elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

What is
Ergonomics?

Ergonomics
is essentially fitting the workplace to the worker. It involves the application
of knowledge about human capacities and limitations to the design of workplaces,
jobs, tasks, tools, equipment, and the environment.

The goal of
ergonomics in the workplace is to prevent injuries and illnesses (work-related
musculoskeletal disorders or WMDs) by reducing or eliminating worker exposure
to occupational hazards. These hazards include: